Beatles: Come Together Meaning
Song Released: 1969
Come Together Lyrics
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1TOP RATED
anonymous Aug 23rd 2008, 21:50 report
OK, the meaning of the lyrics are actually quite clear and relevant if you know some history about the Beatles and are somewhat familiar with the idioms and slang of the era:
1st verse:
"HERE COME OL' FLAT-TOP,
HE COME GROOVIN' UP SLOWLY.
HE GOT HAIR DOWN TO HIS KNEE,
GOT TO BE A JOKER HE JUST DO WHAT HE PLEASE."
This verse references Ringo. "Flat-Top" makes reference to Ringo's bluesy musical roots and the disparaging stereotype that was often applied to those that played that style of music.
"Groovin' up slowly" refers to the fact that Ringo was the last to join the final and 'official' line-up of the band, yet his drumming ability was very limited and borderline acceptable at the beginning, especially compared to the abilities of the rest of the band. As he honed his skill, he slowly became better and better at holding down the beat of the music, or 'groove' as it was also loosely referred to. As the group continued to record and release music, his talent slowly came up to the standards of the other three.
"He got hair down to his knee" simply refers to the fact that Ringo had a longer, shaggy hairstyle when he joined the band, while the other three had the short, close-cropped style favored by the 'mods' of the day.
"Got to be a joker he just do what he please" is obvious: Ringo was the funny one, the 'cut-up' of the group and he often said and did bizzarre and unexpected things in formal situations the group found themselves in during the early years. His enthusiastic, upbeat attitude was a major influence of the early writings of John and Paul.
Verse #2:
"HE WEAR NO SHOE-SHINE,
HE GOT TOE-JAM FOOTBALL.
HE GOT MONKEY-FINGER,
HE SHOOT COCA-COLA.
HE SAY I KNOW YOU, YOU KNOW ME.
ONE THING I CAN TELL YOU IS YOU GOT TO BE FREE.
The subject of this verse is George. "He wear no shoe-shine" is a reference to going to bare-foot, a quite-common state of dress that George adopted once he became so enamored of the Indian Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. Bare feet and simple robes were the accepted dress of the followers of the Yogi, and George's influence quickly spread to the other three Beatles.
Toe-Jam football is just a reference to bare-foot 'soccer' style football playing, the common social outdoor activity practiced by many while worshipping at the yogi's temple.
"Monkey-Finger" refers to George's manual dexterity and amazing abilty to master many, many different styles of stringed intruments, notably the 'sitar', an almost unknown instrument at the time that he was introduced to and quickly learned how to play while worshipping at the yogi's temple.
"He shoot coca-cola" is obvious: 'coca-cola' is street-slang for cocaine, a drug that George, as well as the others, would often 'shoot up' directly into thier veins.
"I know you, you know me...we got to be free" is simply the basic premise of the entire teachings of the Yogi, that George was so whole-heartadly promoting to his fellow bandmates.
"COME TOGETHER RIGHT NOW...OVER ME" refers to the message the Yogi deleivered to the band asa group that would supposedly heal the growing rift and dissention between the four members of the band and unite them as a single cohesive unit once again.
Verse #3:
"HE BAD (NOT 'BAG') PRODUCTION,
HE GOT WALRUS GUM-BOOT.
HE GOT ONO SIDEBOARD,
HE ONE SPINAL CRACKER,
HE GOT FEET DOWN BELOW HIS KNEE,
HOLD YOU IN HIS ARMCHAIR YOU CAN FEEL HIS DISEASE.
No questions about this one, it's about John all the way:
"Bad production" refers to John's increasing level of drug use and the negative effect it had on his abilty to effectivly create acceptable music with the rest of the band, and to function with the rest of the band.
John was the 'Walrus' referred to in the 'I am the Walrus; lyrics', clearly this refers to him.(notwithstanding the later lyric 'the walrus was Paul' from "Glass onion")
A 'sideboard' is the term used when attorneys would be called away from a trial during court for private discussion. "Ono sideboard" makes refernce to the growing distraction that the rest of the band felt Yoko Ono was having on John.
John's increasing uncooperative attitude towards the professional and musical direction the rest of the band wanted to follow manifested itself in John constantly griping and complaining to the others, or in slang terms "breaking thier backs", a term referenced with 'spinal cracker'.
"Feet down below his knee" also makes refernce to his stubborn, uncompromising desire to do things his way only with little or no regard for the rest of the band's wishes. To give in was to be seen as being on 'your knees', but John had 'feet below his knees', so there was no way he was going to kneel(stand on his knees) and be subserviant when he could 'stand on his feet' and be the decison-maker.
"Hold you in his armchair (possibly..."arms, yeah...) you can feel his disease" refers to the fact that John's tough exterior persona barely fooled anyone, as his self-loathing and self-doubt, fueled and magnified by increasingly excessive drug use began to consume him. To be close to , or to 'hold him in your arm...' was to know the real John, where one could 'feel his disease'.
Verse #4:
"HE ROLLER COASTER,
HE GOT EARLY WARNING.
HE GOT MUDDY WATER,
HE ONE MOJO FILTER.
HE SAY ONE AND ONE AND ONE IS THREE
GOT TO BE GOOD LOOKING 'CAUSE HE'S SO HARD TO SEE"
Well, last of the four is Paul, and this is clearly all about Paul.
'Roller coaster' refers to Paul's aggravating habit to the rest of the band by constantly changing his stated desire to either break up and move on to a solo career or to remain as a band and contue on as the 'Beatles'.
'Early warning' makes reference to the fact that they all made it clear to Paul long before that his selfish, superior attitide was going to create a rift between them and in fact it finally did.
'Muddy water' describes the bad feelings and growing poor relationship between Paul and the rest of the band due to his constant lying and manipulation of them, and particularly about his attempts to convince the others to let his father-in-law manage the band as opposed to the choice the others made.
'Mojo filter' refers to Paul's habit of 'spin doctoring' information to the others and manipulating thier perceptions so as to ultimately get his way.
'One and one and one is three' refers to Paul's attempts to try and convince the others that if he did indeed leave the band and start a solo career, they remaining three could carry on and continue to be 'the Beatles' without him, contray to everyone else's opinion.
'Got to be good looking...': a straightforward reference to the fact that he was typically considered the 'cute, good looking one' of the group.
'...so hard to see' desribes the increasing time away from the rest of the band that Paul was spending on persoanl projects, to the detriment of any possible group projects.
So, there you have it! -
2TOP RATED
Bazza Jan 8th 2009, 07:04 report
I have studied this song at great lengths and I think that many theories listed here (concerning the song being about band members) are correct but the confusion lies in trying to apportion one verse to one band member.
I believe we need to view the song as a need by John to settle differences and reunite the band. He (at the time) was seen to be causing difficulties within the band by involving Yoko and his growing benevolent behavior. With Paul expressing his intent to leave and friction growing towards John by both the other band members and the press/public, this was John's attempt to clear the air and lay the cards on the table.
Each verse contains John's view of ALL band members and follows a pattern, the exception being Ringo who seems to be the target of that old joke, "The drummer never has anything interesting to say!" The first line being about John's first meeting with the member. The second line concerning a memorable theme of the band member. The third line is about John's feelings towards the other members at the height hostilities. The forth line portrays the current thoughts John has about the other members. And the last line of every verse is either criticism defense or criticism of John by the band.
The first line of every verse is about Paul, the first to join John's band. ("The Quarrymen" at the time)
Lines -
1 - Here come old flattop he come grooving up slowly
2 - He wear no shoeshine he got toe-jam football
3 - He bad (not bag) production he got walrus gumboot
4 - He roller-coaster he got early warning
Interpretation -
1 - Paul met John at a gig and was trying to act cool and older than his age and impress with his guitar playing skills (He was only 15 at the time)
2 - In reference to the shoeless Abbey Rd. picture.
3 - Paul would stop recording (production) to argue and fight with John and was unhappy with the his behavior whilst recording "I Am The Walrus"
4 - "Roller-coaster" referring to Paul's moods (up and down) and his "warning" about leaving the band.
The second line of every verse is about George. The second to join after being introduced to John by Paul.
Lines -
1 - He got joo-joo eyeball he one holy roller
2 - He got monkey finger he shoot coca-cola
3 - He got ono sideboard he one spinal cracker
4 - He got muddy water he one mojo filter
Interpretation -
1 - "Joo-joo eyeball" is in relation to George idolizing John before he was excepted into the band and attending every performance and "eyeballing" John at every gig. The "holy roller" refers to George's amazing grasp of both American blues/gospel and rock and roll bass lines at only 14!
2 - This line refers to George's drug use.
3 - "Ono" obviously refers to Yoko. George was known to sideline (sideboard) Yoko during Paul's outbursts to John about her involvement with the band and John is calling him spineless for doing so (Spinal cracker).
4 - This line is about George switching off and distancing himself from the troubles within the band, filtering the bad "mojo" but acting despondent feeling the blues (Muddy Waters reference)
The third line of every verse is about Ringo. The last member to join the band after replacing Pete Best.
Lines -
1 - He got hair down to his knee
2 - He say "I know you, you know me"
3 - He got feet down below his knee
4 - He say "one and one and one is three"
Interpretation -
1 - Ringo had long hair at a time when the others had gone for the famous bowl cut and when sitting at the drums, his hair would hang down to (well, not quite) his knees.
2- This line is in reference to the hard time he had after joining the band. Pete Best had a huge following that protested Ringo replacing him. As it was, Ringo had played at many gigs with the Beatles when Best was unable or unwilling to play!
3 - This is a joke about not being able to see Ringo below the waist when sitting behind the drum kit.
4 - This line is about both a reference to rhythm and Ringo's feelings that he was left out and isolated from the other three members decisions regarding the band.
The forth line of every verse is related to John himself, containing both criticisms of him by the others and a rebuttal.
Lines -
1 - Got to be a joker he just do what he please
2 - One thing I can tell you is you got to be free
3 - Hold you in his armchair you can feel his disease
4 - Got to be good-looking 'cause he's so hard to see
Interpretation -
1,2 & 4 - These lines are criticisms of John made by the other band members. They relate to his difficult behavior, dragging the others down and general hostility towards him.
2 - This line is both very interesting and crucial to the interpretation of the whole song! It is the only line in which "I" is used. This is John speaking directly to the band (and us, the listener). It is a rebuttal and an excuse for his behavior. It is his only explanation to the feelings the others have towards him. He is feeling stifled by the band and is possibly ready to leave.
The chorus -
Come together, right now. Over me.
It seems clear at first, "come together, right now". It demands an end the the current hostility, immediately. We know John was commissioned to write a song for Timothy Leary and his campaign but John got no further than the title when Leary was arrested and I believe that the words "come together" stuck a resonance with John at that time. The last part, "Over me" offers two outcomes to the bands current situation. The first having holding the meaning "get over me", put the past behind and we can continue happily together. The second meaning can be interpreted as "I'm over", announcing John's intent to leave the band and go his own way.
Thankyou for reading and I hope my views on this song and the man who wrote it may ring true to you.
Peace. -
3TOP RATED
anonymous Dec 17th 2005, 01:52 report
This is just me... but listening to the lyrics, I wonder if John is not describing the Beatles in the song... 4 verses, 4 beatles... The 3rd verse (walrus gumboot) describes John (ono sideboards, walrus gumboot, feel his disease), the first vers (here come ol flattop) describes George (joo-joo eyeball, holy roller, He got hair down to his knee
Got to be a joker he just do what he please), the 4th verse perhaps about Ringo (early warning, one and one and one is three could deal with drums and rythm, and Got to bee good looking cause he's so hard to see is because Ringo was always behind the drumset.), and the 2nd verse about Paul (monkey finger, like a bass player,) But I don't know. I'm just playin around. -
jusplainjesse Jul 27th 2005, 21:24 report
Ok, I can't take credit for this one, my dad told me. He says that they wrote it because everyone thought that there were hidden meanings in their songs, so they wrote one that would seem obvious that it had a hidden meaning. The truth is...IT DOESN'T!!! THE SONG IS COMPLETELY RANDOM!!! Oh well...it's still an awesome song.
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anonymous Jul 31st 2005, 18:17 report
Okay, I'e read this several times, and also heard it while watching a documentary on John Lennon. This song DOES have a meaning. Timothy Leary came to John Lennon and asked him to write a song for him. He was going to run for a political office, and his campaign slogan was going to be "Come Together." He wanted a song his followers could sing along the campaign trail that included that slogan. Timothy Leary was arrested before the campaign, so John Lennon no longer felt obligated to give Leary the song he wrote, and therefore, the Beatles recorded it as their own. So that explains "Come together right now, over me." As for the wacky lyrics of the verses, never question John Lennon.
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anonymous Dec 21st 2005, 19:00 report
Yes, that interpertation about Timothy Leary is exactly correct, but there is also another rumor about the meaning of this song. As some might know, Paul McCartney was rumored to be killed in a car crash. Some believers of this rumor also believe that this song had to do with Paul's death. The lyric "come together right now over me" refers to "comming together" over Paul's grave. Also, the lyric "one and one and one is three" refers to there being only three Beatles after Paul's death. I'm not sure if this rumor is correct, just thought I'd share.
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anonymous Dec 25th 2005, 03:10 report
Interpretation done by Grant Kimura:
No one's willing to explain the lyrics to "Come Together" by the Beatles. They all say it's just random gibberish. I say that each of the individual verses is about each respective member of the band:
The third verse is obviously about John Lennon. Having an "ono sideboard" would mean he has Yoko as a sideboard (armrest on a couch), which would mean that she is his support. (She was in the studio in a hospital bed with him, since they had both been in a car crash 3 weeks prior, as they recorded this song) Walrus gumboot would most likely refer to the Beatles song, "I am the Walrus", which was penned by Lennon.
The first verse seems like it would be about Paul. The original version of "Come Together" was faster, until Paul wrote that groovy bassline and slowed it down. This was also about the time Paul and John started getting more and more bitter at each other, so the last line would then make sense. As for the hair line, who knows? John actually had the longest hair in the group during this time.
The last verse, I'm assuming is about Harrison. George was the least prominent member of the group. Only sang backup, never lead, always stood off to the side, so the "so hard to see" line would make sense in those regards. "Mojo filter" could also be in reference to Harrison's really strong sense of spirituality with Middle Eastern influences.
Thus, the second verse would be about Ringo. That just seems like gibberish to me, but it's the only verse left for the poor guy. -
This interpretation has been marked as poor. view anyway
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anonymous Jan 4th 2006, 17:33 report
I've always thought that this song was about a feneral and then things that happen to the body while decaying underground.
-"Here come old flat top he come groovin' up slowly" Refers to the coffin being carried to the funeral.
-"He got joo-joo eyeball he one holy roller" Could possibly refer to Paul; joo-joo eyeball meaning he is seen as good looking, hol;y roller could be referring to money. I.e. Paul is rich.
-"He got hair down to his knee" It was, and still is, a common misconception that hair and nails continue to grow after death. This is, in fact, not true, but the Beatles undoubtedly would have believed it. No thanks to Hollywood.
-"Got to be a joker he just do what he please" Perhaps he ignored some sign of warning and got himself killed.
-"He wear no shoeshine he got toe jam football" As 'conspiracy theorists' will know, not wearing shose was an omen of death, because in the Middle Ages shoes were too valuable to be buried, so people were buried with no shoes on, and the shoes were sold or used by the family. Toe jam football is probably also referring to nails growing after death, and the fact that during the decaying process, as the toenails rot they swell.
-"He got monkey finger he shoot Coca Cola" Monkey finger refers to an odd phenomenon during decay where the skin tightens just after rigor mortis, and the fingers appear elongated. The coca cola was probably a reference to shooting cocaine, but if the Beatles had said cocaine the song would have been banned from radios.
-"He say, I know you, you know me. One thing I can tell you is you got to be free" I'm not quite sure about this one, but I think it may mean that the dead man knew the funeral-goers well and that they should all know that he would be free in heaven, or perhaps that he freel ymade his choice to ignore a warning just to keep things interesting, and so died.
-"Come together, right now over me" In my opinion the most obvious part, as far as my theory goes. People are congregating over the body at a wake. Congregating OVER the body in the coffin.
-"Spinal cracker..." maybe he broke his back and died.
-"Hold you in his armchair you can feel his disease" Or maybe he had some affliction, AIDS, the Plague(...?), or maybe even cocaine addiction.
-"...roller coaster he got eatly warning" Maybe his disease was LSD and hew jumped off of a roller coaster... Something tells me this is too literal and ouright to be correct though.
-"one and one and one is three" I agree that this may have been because there were only 3 Beatles left.
-"Got to be good looking cause he's so hard to see..." Closed casket funeral.
Note- Another possibility that I find extremely likely is that the Beatles wrote this song the way they did just to fuel the conspiracy theories. They would never have admitted it, but the theories made them money. People went and bought records just to hear if the things they had heard were true. Also, I do not believe Paul was ever addicted to any hallucinogens or drugs at all, considering that as of 2006 he is still alive and kickin'. -
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anonymous Feb 14th 2006, 11:59 report
You're all reading too deep into this...lol. Quite funny really how you can get so much meaning out of something Lennon himself said was meant to be a bunch of intentional non-sense just like "Walrus".
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anonymous Mar 13th 2006, 22:03 report
I think you all are partially right about the 4 verses 4 beatles, Ringo, John, Paul, and George. The rumor about Paul dying the pregance. But I think the best one is the 4 verses 4 beatles Ringo so hard to see,that one. You guys are freakin awesome!!!
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anonymous Mar 20th 2006, 17:48 report
I believe the song is about the four Beatles. The first verse is probably about Ringo, "Got to be a joker" being the most identifiable portion. The second verse is probably about Paul: "He wear no shoeshine" could refer to his bare feet in the photo on the cover of "Abbey Road", which may have already be taken; and Paul's known role as the "keen" one in the band could be reflected in "I know you, you know me," etc. The third verse is definitely about John. The fourth verse is likely about George, due to "so hard to see" and references to guitarists such as Muddy Waters. It's interesting how prescient the song is, though: Paul, many years later, wrote a song called "Freedom", and George was a participant in the John-less Beatles known as the "Threetles", who came together over John for The Beatles Anthology.
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This interpretation has been marked as poor. view anyway
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This interpretation has been marked as poor. view anyway
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This interpretation has been marked as poor. view anyway
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This interpretation has been marked as poor. view anyway
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anonymous Jul 26th 2006, 19:46 report
No, no, no, this song is the height of the "paul is dead" craze! Think about it, "he got hair down to his knee" about the belief that your hair continues to grow when you're dead, "one, and one, and one, make three" the three remaining beatles, "come together, right now, over me" about how they would be standing, literally, over Paul during the funeral, "he wear no shoeshine he got toe-jam football" both things about being dead and buried.
Well, thers just some things off the top of my head, tell me what you think. I'm pretty sure I have this one in the bag. -
anonymous Oct 30th 2006, 21:26 report
First off, whoever said I am the Walrus is a bunch of gibberish, it's not. Yea, a few lines are because John wrote them to confuse a teacher trying to analyze his lines in england but the rest has a meaning but that is a different song. I think that guy at the beginning about the four verses being about the four Beatles. 1 would be George. 2 would be Paul. 3 would be John (obviously) and 4 would be Ringo.
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anonymous Nov 8th 2006, 20:58 report
The song is about Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. The Beatles were spending a lot of time with him at this point in their career, and as a transcendentalist, one of his major tenets would be that all people are broken fragments of one force. Ideally, everyone would come together in enlightenment.
Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, by the way, had really long hair, down to his knees even. He also had long fingernails. As a religious leader, he'd be a "holy roller."
↓ More Come Together meanings below the jump ↓
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Come Together lyrics
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Songs with Surreal Themes
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Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds
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I am the Walrus
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A Day In The Life
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Blackbird
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